Men's Cross Country

Two Earn LEC Rookie Cross Country Honors

Oct. 11, 2011

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA-Two members of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth cross country teams have been honored by the Little East Conference.

Freshmen Katie Sheehan (Scituate, MA/Scituate HS) and Ben Girard (Manchester, MA/Manchester Essex HS) have been named LEC Rookie Runners of the Week. It's the third time that Girard has been so honored.

At last Saturday's James Earley Invitational at Westfield State, Sheehan led the Corsair runners for the first time this season, finishing 13th overall in 19:23 for the 5000 meter race. Girard led the UMass Dartmouth men, placing 22nd overall in 27:20 over the five mile course.

"Our whole team had a real breakthrough race on Saturday, and Katie was the poster child for that breakthrough," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Jon Hird. "She's been looking good in practice, she listens well, she remembers well, and she is very performance-oriented. For someone for whom track and field was probably her primary running sport in high school, last Saturday's race was a great achievement and a real eye opener. Ben continues to perform at a very level for a freshman. Week after week, he races well, he plans well, and he thinks well throughout the course of the race and makes the adjustments he has to make. Over time, he is going to be a very good cross country runner. One of his most important attributes so far is his consistency, and coaches love athletes who are consistent."

The Corsairs will return to action when they visit Connecticut College this Saturday.